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104 Document No. 30. [Session
germ, or the combining with the complex molecule, and so
destroying it: the absorption of additional oxygen and for-mation
of sulphuric acid being the most noteworthy chemical
tendenc}^ on the part of sulphurous acid. Chlorine probably
acts upon the microbes as it does in bleaching, by combining
with the hydrogen of water and setting free the oxygen,
which, at the moment of liberation, acts very powerfully on
oxidizable matter
Both chlorine and sulphurous acid having decided bleach-ing
action, their use should be avoided, if possible, where
there are valuable colored objects which might be injured
by them.
As to the best disinfecting agents, heated air and steam,
the difficulties are mainly physical, and the mechanic, not
the chemist, has to be called in. Air, even moist air, at a
high temperature acts slowly, and sometimes imperfectly.
Steam is to be preferred to it, but even steam at 100° has
been known to act for five hours without destroying the
vitality of some very refractory baccilli. Most varnished and
painted objects suffer under the action of the steam ; furs
shrink, and leather is rendered brittle and useless by it,
I have been able only to take up three or four of the chief
disinfectants, and discuss bri« fly some of their chemical char-acteristics.
I fear that I have brought little or nothing that
is new before this body. But, perhaps, some fact- have been
brought freshly to your minds, and through you they may
reach a larger, less learned audience, and so put an end to
some of the misuse and abuse of disinfectants.

104 Document No. 30. [Session
germ, or the combining with the complex molecule, and so
destroying it: the absorption of additional oxygen and for-mation
of sulphuric acid being the most noteworthy chemical
tendenc}^ on the part of sulphurous acid. Chlorine probably
acts upon the microbes as it does in bleaching, by combining
with the hydrogen of water and setting free the oxygen,
which, at the moment of liberation, acts very powerfully on
oxidizable matter
Both chlorine and sulphurous acid having decided bleach-ing
action, their use should be avoided, if possible, where
there are valuable colored objects which might be injured
by them.
As to the best disinfecting agents, heated air and steam,
the difficulties are mainly physical, and the mechanic, not
the chemist, has to be called in. Air, even moist air, at a
high temperature acts slowly, and sometimes imperfectly.
Steam is to be preferred to it, but even steam at 100° has
been known to act for five hours without destroying the
vitality of some very refractory baccilli. Most varnished and
painted objects suffer under the action of the steam ; furs
shrink, and leather is rendered brittle and useless by it,
I have been able only to take up three or four of the chief
disinfectants, and discuss bri« fly some of their chemical char-acteristics.
I fear that I have brought little or nothing that
is new before this body. But, perhaps, some fact- have been
brought freshly to your minds, and through you they may
reach a larger, less learned audience, and so put an end to
some of the misuse and abuse of disinfectants.